Hydrangea plant named “Dove”

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea macrophylla  (Thunb.) named ‘Dove ’ originated as a controlled cross between the cultivars ‘BuffiexLibelle96BL-2’ and ‘Libelle’. The cultivar ‘Dove’ has white R.H.S. 155 D (white group) sepals at maturity and is distinguished from other similar cultivars of which the inventor is aware by its sepal color, and its compact and sturdy growth habit. ‘Dove’ has large showy inflorescences, having both sepalous and non-sepalous florets.

Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘Dove’.

Variety denomination: ‘Dove’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of theSaxifragaceae family. The botanical name of the plant is Hydrangeamacrophylla (Thunb.) ‘Dove’.

The new cultivar originated as a seedling from a controlled crossbetween the commercial variety Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘Libelle’and the commercial variety Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘Buffie’. Theprogeny from that cross were evaluated and two of the progeny wereselected for further development. One of the progeny, identified by theinventor as Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘BuffiexLibelle96BL-2’ wascrossed back to Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘Libelle’. The progeny ofthis cross were evaluated and the cultivar which is the subject of thisapplication was selected: Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘Dove’.

The variety ‘Dove’ has white sepals like the parent ‘Libelle’, and istypically grown under soil conditions with pH conditions that wouldproduce pink pigmentation, if the sepals were pigmented.

The new variety was first noticed, because of its strong stems andupright growth habit. Unlike its parent ‘Libelle’ which it most closelyresembles, the new variety's stems are strong, like its relative‘Buffie’.

The new cultivar ‘Dove’ has been successfully asexually reproduced undercontrolled environmental conditions at a nursery in Half Moon Bay,Calif. under the direction of the inventor through three genera with itsdistinguishing characteristics remaining stable.

‘Dove’ is distinguished from other lace cap varieties of Hydrangea ofwhich the inventor is aware by its strong stems, upright but compactgrowth habit and sepal color. ‘Dove’ is distinguished from ‘Buffie’ bythe form of its inflorescence. ‘Dove’ is a lace cap type hydrangea withthe non-sepalous florets dominating the inflorescence, while ‘Buffie’has a ball-type inflorescence with the sepalous florets dominating andhiding the non-sepalous florets. ‘Dove’ has stronger stems than thevariety ‘Libelle’ from which it is derived as it does not have to bestaked for commercial sale.

Asexual reproduction was first accomplished when vegetative cuttingswere taken from the initially selected plant. Examination of asexuallyreproduced, successive generations grown in a nursery at Half Moon Bay,Calif. show that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor ‘Dove’ remains firmly fixed through three generations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings consist of color photographs that show thetypical plant form, including the inflorescence, foliage, and sepals.

FIG. 1 is a view of the entire plant showing its form, compact growthhabit, dark green foliage, inflorescence, and white sepals. Theparticular plant shown has multiple panicles.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the entire plant. The particular plant shown hasmultiple panicles.

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of a panicle of the new variety, showingopened, sepalous florets.

FIG. 4 is a close-up view of a panicle of the new variety. The panicleshown is still rather young. The sepalous florets are still opening.

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of a panicle of the new variety.

FIG. 6 is a close-up view of a mature floret of the new variety.

FIG. 7 is a close-up view of a mature floret of the new variety.

FIG. 8 is a close-up view of the adaxial surface of a mature leaf.

FIG. 9 is a close-up view of the underside of a panicle, showinglenticels on the stem.

FIG. 10 is a close-up view of the base of the stem.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The plants shown in the figures started out as cuttings, taken from thestem of a grown plant. The cuttings were placed in a 6″ pot withhydrangea soil that would produce pink pigmentation in Hydrangeas thathave pigmentation in their sepals.

‘Dove’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Colordeterminations were made with The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.)Colour Chart.

THE PLANT

-   Origin: Controlled cross.    -   -   Parents.—Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘Libelle’            (unpatented) and Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.)            ‘BuffiexLibelle96BL-2’ (unpatented).        -   Botanic classification.—Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Dove.-   Form: Upright, compact shrub. A typical plant with a mature    inflorescence that is ready for sale is approximately 14″ high, has    6 inflorescences after being pinched, and has a diameter of 20″ when    grown in a 6″ pot with appropriate soil amendments. Bottom 2.5 to 5    inches of the stems are woody.-   Growth: Upright, vigorous growth habit. Inflorescence is large. The    plant branches easily with shoots forming at the base of the plant.    Lateral branches are similar in appearance and form to the main    stems.-   Stems: Lenticels are present. Stems become woody as they age. The    color of typical young stems and young lateral branches is R.H.S.    146 D (yellow-green group). Woody stems are R.H.S. 199 D (grey-brown    group). The lenticels are R.H.S. 182 A (greyed-red group).-   Foliage: Abundant. Leaves are opposite on stem and lateral branches.    -   -   Shape of leaf.—Elliptic with acute base and apex. Margins            are serrate.        -   Texture.—Glabrous; veins dominate on the underside of the            leaf and are sunken on the leaf surface.        -   Color.—Mature leaves have an upper side that is R.H.S. 137 A            (green group), and an under side that is R.H.S. 147 B            (yellow-green group). The upper side of younger leaves can            be a little darker at R.H.S 139 A (green group). The veins            of mature leaves are R.H.S. 145 C (yellow-green group)            whether viewed from the top or the bottom of the leaf.            Leaves are pinnately veined. The midvein and veins branching            off the midvein are large and prominent on the underside of            the leaves. Large leaves are 6 inches long (not including            the petiole) and 4.5 inches wide. Smaller leaves are 5            inches long and 3.5 inches wide. Petiole lengths range from            1 to 2 inches.

BUDS

-   Form: Globose with 4 to 5 connate petals (sometimes 3). Buds in the    center of the inflorescence are non-sepalous and dominate the    inflorescence. Buds have a diameter of approximately 5 mm at    maturity. Very young floret buds are R.H.S. 145C (yellow-green    group), turning pink as they age.-   Aspect: Smooth.-   Arrangement: Borne on branched panicles.

INFLORESCENCE

-   Form: Paniculate. Terminal. As many as 200 or more individual    flowers (florets) per inflorescence. Both sepalous florets and    non-sepalous florets borne on same panicle, with the sepalous    florets forming a ring around the edge of the inflorescence. An    inflorescence with 200 florets may have as many as 20-30 sepalous    florets. Flowers do not produce a fragrance. The peduncle or panicle    for the inflorescence is branched, strong and upright. The uppermost    portions of the pedicels for the individual florets are    predominately pink—R.H.S. 69 A (red-purple group) at maturity.-   Size of inflorescence: Large. Individual inflorescence size is    dependent on the number of florets. A typical inflorescence can grow    as large as 9″ in diameter, and 5″ high.-   Shape: Clusters of numerous small florets; sepalous florets are flat    and overlapping one another. Sepals are persistent.-   Appearance: Showy.

FLORETS

-   -   -   General.—The non-sepalous florets at the center of the            inflorescence open first. Sepalous florets are perfect and            complete, although petals, stamens and ovary generally fall            off. Corolla: Generally there are 4 petals that are pink —            R.H.S. 69 A (red-purple group).        -   Stamens.—10 stamens (some florets have 8 or 9). Pollen is            yellow — R.H.S. 8D (yellow group). Plant produces abundant            pollen. Filament is pink — R.H.S. 69 A (red-purple group)            and approximately 4 mm long. Anther is 1 mm long and is            regular and basally attached.        -   Stigma.—Generally, a three-pronged stigma on one pistil per            floret. Stigma is pink — R.H.S. 69 A (red-purple group) and            protrudes from the ovary approximately 1 mm.        -   Ovary.—Ovary is green — R.H.S. 145 C (yellow-green group)            when young, becoming pink at the floret matures and is            partially inferior.

-   Sepalous florets:    -   -   General.—Veins dominate on the underside of the sepals.        -   Number of sepals.—4 or 5 sepals per floret, usually 4, and            sometimes 3.        -   Aspect of sepals.—Smooth and glaucescent.        -   Shape of sepals.—Reniform with acuminate apex. Edges often            wavy when the floret is young.        -   Size of sepals.—As the florets mature, the sepals enlarge            and overlap each other. Usually 1 dominant sepal, 2 smaller            but equally-sized sepals, and 1 small sepal. Largest sepal            at maturity is typically 27 mm long and 40 mm wide, the            medium sized sepals are typically 25 mm long by 33 mm wide,            and the smallest sepals are typically 25 mm long and 27 cm            wide.        -   Coloration of sepals.—At maturity the sepals are white —            R.H.S. 155 D (white group). Young sepals are R.H.S.145 C            (yellow-green group).

-   Fruit: None.

1. A new and distinct Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) plant named ‘Dove’ substantially as herein shown and described. 